AS 4774.

2—2002
AS 4774.2

Australian Standard™
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Work in compressed air and hyperbaric

facilities

Part 2: Hyperbaric oxygen facilities

 This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee SF-046, Non-diving Work in
Compressed Air and Hyperbaric Treatment Facilities. It was approved on behalf of
the Council of Standards Australia on 29 March 2002 and published on 24 April 2002.

The following interests are represented on Committee SF-046:

Australian and New Zealand Hyperbaric Medicine Group
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Australian Industry Group
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Australian Medical Association

Hyperbaric Engineering Industry Forum
Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association
Institution of Engineers Australia
South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society
WorkCover New South Wales

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This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 00249.

 AS 4774.2—2002

Australian Standard™
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Work in compressed air and hyperbaric

facilities

Part 2: Hyperbaric oxygen facilities

First published as AS 4774.2—2002.

COPYRIGHT
© Standards Australia International
All rights are reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of the
publisher.
Published by Standards Australia International Ltd
GPO Box 5420, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
ISBN 0 7337 4464 8
 AS 4774.2—2002 2

PREFACE
This Standard was prepared by Standards Australia Committee SF-046, Non-diving Work in
Compressed Air and Hyperbaric Treatment Facilities, in response to a request from the
Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association (HTNA).
This Standard was prepared using the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facilities Industry
Guidelines (HOTFIG) as a basis. HOTFIG was prepared by participants in the hyperbaric
oxygen therapy industry during the period of 1995 to 1998. HOTFIG was a consensus
document prepared by a committee with membership from the HTNA, Australian and New
Zealand Hyperbaric Medicine Group and operators and suppliers of hyperbaric chambers.*
A wider review group provided comment on HOTFIG drafts at various stages.
The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the
application of the appendices. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of a Standard,
This is a free 7 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

* The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society (UHMS) Guidelines for Clinical Multiplace
Hyperbaric Facilities was used as a basis for HOTFIG.
 3 AS 4774.2—2002

CONTENTS

Page
SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE......................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 OBJECTIVE ................................................................................................................ 5
1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS................................................................................... 5
1.4 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 5
1.5 RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGISLATION ................................................................... 6

SECTION 2 HYPERBARIC FACILITY

2.1 CHAMBER ROOM ..................................................................................................... 7
2.2 HYPERBARIC TREATMENT CHAMBER................................................................ 8
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SECTION 3 MULTIPLACE CHAMBER OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS

3.1 GENERAL................................................................................................................. 11
3.2 AIR PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM ......................................................................... 11
3.3 BREATHING GAS SYSTEMS ................................................................................. 14
3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONING SYSTEM .................................................. 15
3.5 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM................................................................................. 15
3.6 PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM ........................................................................ 16
3.7 LIGHTING SYSTEM................................................................................................ 16
3.8 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ........................................................................................ 16
3.9 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM................................................................................ 16
3.10 SOUND ATTENUATION......................................................................................... 17
3.11 CLOTHING AND TEXTILES .................................................................................. 17
3.12 PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED MATERIALS................................................... 17

SECTION 4 MONOPLACE CHAMBERS

4.1 AIR PRESSURIZED MONOPLACE CHAMBERS .................................................. 19
4.2 OXYGEN PRESSURIZED MONOPLACE CHAMBERS ........................................ 19
4.3 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM................................................................................ 19

SECTION 5 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

5.1 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE ...................................................................................... 20
5.2 CHAMBER CLEANING .......................................................................................... 20
5.3 LUBRICANTS .......................................................................................................... 20

SECTION 6 RISK MANAGEMENT FOR HYPERBARIC FACILITIES

6.1 GENERAL................................................................................................................. 21
6.2 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL PROCESS 21
6.3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION................................................................................... 21
6.4 RISK ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................ 22
6.5 RISK CONTROL....................................................................................................... 22
6.6 EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PROTOCOLS ........................................................... 23
6.7 REGULAR REVIEW OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ....................................... 24

SECTION 7 PERSONNEL FOR HYPERBARIC FACILITIES

7.1 GENERAL................................................................................................................. 25
7.2 SENIOR PHYSICIAN IN DIVING AND HYPERBARIC MEDICINE (SHP).......... 25
7.3 HYPERBARIC PHYSICIAN (HP) ............................................................................ 25
7.4 HYPERBARIC MEDICAL OFFICER (HMO) .......................................................... 26
7.5 HYPERBARIC ATTENDANT.................................................................................. 26
 AS 4774.2—2002 4

Page

7.6 CHAMBER OPERATORS ........................................................................................ 26

7.7 MINIMUM STAFF QUALIFICATIONS .................................................................. 27

SECTION 8 STAFFING OF HYPERBARIC FACILITIES

8.1 DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE STAFFING .............................................. 28
8.2 CHAMBER OPERATOR .......................................................................................... 28
8.3 PATIENT CARE ....................................................................................................... 28
8.4 EQUIPMENT-SPECIFIC TRAINING....................................................................... 29
8.5 ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITY.................................................................... 29
8.6 RESPONSIBILITIES—FACILITY MANAGEMENT .............................................. 29
8.7 RESPONSIBILITIES—PATIENT CARE AND CHAMBER OPERATION ............. 30
8.8 MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS FOR ALL CHAMBER TYPES ........................... 31
8.9 STAFF FITNESS TO ENTER HYPERBARIC ENVIRONMENT ............................ 32
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SECTION 9 PREPARATION OF PATIENTS FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

9.1 PATIENT ORIENTATION ....................................................................................... 34
9.2 PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND PREPARATION.................................................... 34

SECTION 10 MINIMUM MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR A HYPERBARIC OXYGEN

THERAPY FACILITY
10.1 GENERAL................................................................................................................. 35
10.2 MINIMUM MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ...................................................................... 35

APPENDICES
A LIST OF REFERENCED AND RELATED DOCUMENTS...................................... 36
B SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ......................................................... 39
C HYPERBARIC ATTENDANT COURSE ................................................................. 41
D MONOPLACE OPERATOR COURSE..................................................................... 45
E HYPERBARIC TECHNICAL OFFICER TRAINING .............................................. 50
F MEDICAL EXAMINATION FORMS ...................................................................... 55
G GUIDANCE FOR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS .................................................... 61
 5 AS 4774.2—2002

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Work in compressed air and hyperbaric facilities

Part 2: Hyperbaric oxygen facilities

S EC TION 1 S C OP E AND G E NER A L

1.1 SCOPE
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This Standard specifies requirements and recommendations for the design, construction,
operation and maintenance of pressure vessels used for human occupancy other than those
used in conjunction with, and support of, underwater diving operations.
Minimum training requirements for hyperbaric attendants, chamber operators and technical
officers are included in appendices.
NOTES:
1 Both monoplace and multiplace hyperbaric chambers are covered.
2 This Standard does not address hypobaric chambers .
3 Facilities such as sporting domes and medical or industrial clean rooms which operate at very
low increased pressures are excluded from the scope of this Standard .

1.2 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Standard is to provide designers, manufacturers, operators and
maintainers of hyperbaric oxygen facilities other than those used in conjunction with, and
support of, underwater diving operations, with requirements and recommendations so that
safe hyperbaric exposures of all persons involved in the operation of such facilities may be
conducted.

1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

A list of referenced and other related publications is provided in Appendix A.

1.4 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Standard the definitions below apply.
1.4.1 Air environment
A pressurized environment having an oxygen concentration not exceeding 23.5% oxygen by
volume.
1.4.2 Chamber operator
The person responsible for operating the controls of a hyperbaric chamber.
1.4.3 Competent person
A person who has acquired through training, qualifications or experience, or a combination
of these, the knowledge and skills enabling that person to safely perform a specific task.

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AS 4774.2-2002, Work in compressed air and

hyperbaric facilities Hyperbaric oxygen facilities
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